Athlete’s title hopes alive

PUEBLO — For someone who needs to stay in amazing physical shape, Neil Wicke has an awfully full plate today.

Though the 18-year-old has experience competing in numerous events, a state title was never on the line in three events in one day before.

The Eaton High School senior advanced to today’s finals in the 110-meter hurdles and the 300 hurdles and will begin the day competing in the long jump.

Today is the second and final day of the Class 2A/3A Track & Field State Competition at Dutch Clark Stadium.

Wicke is optimistic he will leave Pueblo with at least one state title.

“I think I can really sneak up behind some people,” he said. “I really want to be champ. Everybody here wants to be champ. I’m going to leave it all on the track.”

Recommended Stories For You

Though Wicke said he was saving a little energy for today’s full schedule and final round — he joked he went 99 percent instead of 100 during Friday’s preliminary rounds — his coach, Bill Dudley, laughed at the thought.

“He doesn’t know what the words ‘hold back’ mean,” Dudley said. “He can’t. You’ve got to run your heart out to get to the finals.”

Wicke, who finished second in his heat in the 300 hurdles, did not make the finals in the 300 hurdles last year. He sighted a brief stop before the race as a possible reason for his struggles.

“I was really tired and right before the race, they had a big stall because the timers weren’t working or something,” he said. “We sat out in the sun for a long time and it just drained me to the point that I couldn’t do anything anymore.”

Regardless of today’s outcome, Wicke’s on track for a college career at Fort Hays (Kan.) College.

Before that, though, he has one last hurrah as an athlete for the Eaton Reds.

“I’m going to be pushing,” he said. “I think I have a decent chance at this.”

Joel Erickson took eighth place in the 2A boys discus. Scott Nitzel did not advance in the 2A 300 hurdles.

The Reds’ 3A 400 relay team did not advance. Austin Laramore (triple jump) and Nicholas Pfenning (shot put) did not place in their events.

Dustin Kern captured second place in the 3A triple jump. Chance Uhrich finished 18th in the 3,200 run. The Huskies 800 relay team did not qualify for the final round.

Sascha Ahnsehl did not place in the 2A boys high jump.

Adrian Guzman took eighth place in the 3A 800 run. Willy Hagemeister did not qualify in the 110 hurdles.

Tory Buckley finished fifth in the 3A shot put. Napoeleon Price qualified for the final round in the 100 and 200 dashes. Sean Warren and Steve Kielian did not advance in the 300 hurdles. Warren also did not move on the 110 hurdles. The Rough Riders 1,600 relayed team advanced to today’s final round, but its 400 relay and 800 relay teams did not. Tony Michaelis did not place in the pole vault.

Anthony Ames notched third place in the 3A shot put. Craig Newkirk captured fifth place in the 800. Francis Matturi did not advance to the final round in the 100 dash.

Joey Pummer qualified for the final in the 3A 300 hurdles. The Vikings 1,600 relay team also reached today’s final. Cody Biwer took sixth place in the 800 and 15th in the 3,200. Those not advancing included Nehemia Waterland in the 110 hurdles and Justin Huwa in the 300 hurdles.

Johnny Perischette qualified for the final round of the 100 dash.

Bayfield’s Drew McClure broke his own state record in the 3A pole vault with a 15-foot attempt. Last year, he cleared 14-feet, 5.25 inches to establish the previous mark.